Rain Barrels

Its time to dig and transplant iris to where you want splashes of color next June. If you don’t have iris in your garden there are usually neighbors or friends who are eager to share their beauties. If not, rainbows of colorful iris are available at most garden centers.

Iris are tough. Don’t worry about damage to roots or tubers when exposed to the air. Discard soft or damaged tubers when transplanting. You can even break or cut firm tubers that have healthy leaves and set them in the ground.

Iris prefer well-drained soil on the alkaline side of the PH scale.The soil not need be fertile, matter of fact iris like their soil to be rather scruffy. Iris are drought tolerant and nearly maintenance free.

Several years ago I set some iris by my entry gate to plant later and forgot about them. The next June yellow, brown and purple flowers greeted me as I drove up my driveway. I don’t even water down there by the road!

When we had all that rain in May and June I wished I had a rain barrel to collect it. I need not have despaired. I can install one for fall rains. Contact Stacey Selcho, @Stacey-SelchoSpokaneCD.org for information about workshops and classes.

The mere mention of rain barrels sends me into that old classic children’s song. You know, the one about “shouting down the rain barrel and sliding down the cellar door?” Most of us don’t have cellars anymore but the resurgence of installing rain barrels is a great water conservation idea.

Speaking of watering, consistent watering will discourage blossom end-rot and other enemies of tomatoes and plants in the curcubit family.

If I haven’t already cut the peony stalks back to the strongest out facing leaf I do so this month. It seems to make a difference in the vigor of the plant and encourages the leaves to provide a lovely fall display of color.

August mornings are usually quite pleasant and a good time to tidy up your garden. I deadhead annuals and perennials for another flush of flowers. I also trim back my baskets of petunias in late July or August and give them a shot of fertilizer. Within a few weeks my baskets are bursting with color until the frosts come.

If you have a day off, visit garden centers. Get to know some likely candidates for fall sales. It is tempting to bring home trees and shrubs to fill those spots for shade but there is less shock to plants if you can wait until the nighttime hours are longer than the daytime hours and the days are cooler. You can also save a bundle by waiting. Hardy perennials, trees and shrubs can be planted until the ground freezes.

Don’t be tempted to fertilize your perennial plants as they begin to harden off for winter.

Surges of new growth are susceptible to early frost kill.

Set your mower to its highest setting in August. The taller grass shades the roots and your lawn will need less water. Weeds, too are less vigorous so find a shady spot, treat yourself to your favorite beverage and enjoy the haven you have created.

Please contact the WSU Spokane County Master Gardeners

@http://spokane-county.wsu.edu/spokane/ or call 509-477-2181 for more information

Master Gardeners are also available at the Cheney Library the 1st & 3rd Fridays of the month

from April to October